Bring the Storm!

shrapnel ❀ they/them ❀ white
ace-flux ❀ gray-aro ❀ agender

Hiya! I'm Shrapnel, 28, & I'm an ace hobbyist fanfic writer and ever-tired grad student. I love being in zines, both as a moderator
and a contributor. I mostly participate as a writer and writing mod, but sometimes you'll catch me running socials or hosting as well!
I mostly write about Pokémon & Final Fantasy VII atm.

༺❀༻ Current Fandom Events ༺❀༻

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.


༺❀༻ Moderator ༺❀༻


༺❀༻ as host ༺❀༻

"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."
--Warren Bennis

I believe that hosting zines means taking responsibility for a little bit of everything. A good host doesn't need to be an expert in everything, but they should have a decent handle on a little bit of each role needed to keep the zine running — a jack of all trades, master of none, of a sort.As a zine host, I aim to pull together a team of strong moderators who are highly skilled at what they do, who are passionate about the projects we are creating, and who will be actively involved throughout the entire process. As a host, I take it as my responsibility to ensure that a schedule is made and stuck to, that finances are clear and understandable and financial goals are feasible, and that the expectations for each moderator and contributor are clearly communicated and followed up on.

ZineFandomThemeStatusWork
Death is Only The BeginningThe Mummy (1999)25th AnniversaryCreation Periodn/a
Fairy Stories Fic AnthologyPokemonMagick, Mysticism, Lore,
& Fairy Tales
coming soon!n/a

༺❀༻ as writing mod ༺❀༻

"Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I'm not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter."
--Neil Gaiman

I approach moderating writers in much the same way as I approach editing my own stories: with honesty and an aim to tell the story that the writer wants to tell as best that writer can. In practice, this shows through a constructive criticism-focused creation period. Timely feedback is provided for pitches, rough drafts, first edits, and final submissions, and both writers' guidelines and style sheets are provided at the start of the creation period. I collaborate with formatting mods early in the planning period to create the style guide writers will use. By setting standards early and giving feedback consistently, final pieces are formatted correctly and ready to insert into the zine with minimal editing after submitting.I fully believe that writing is a labor of love, and my goal as an editor is to help a writer to tell the story that they want to tell.

ZineFandomThemeStatusWork
Homemade in Hyrule vol.1Legend of ZeldaHome CookingDonated USD $3266 to Action Against Hungerremember, remember (this is now)
Homemade in Hyrule vol.2Legend of ZeldaHome CookingProduction Periodn/a
You Wear Fine Things WellOur Flag Means DeathEd Teach/Stede BonnetProduction Periodn/a
FulminateFinal Fantasy XVIGeneralCreation Periodn/a
Winter WonderlandPokemonWinter & Winter HolidaysFull Zine Released!n/a
Death is Only The BeginningThe Mummy (1999)25th AnniversaryCreation Periodn/a

༺❀༻ as social media mod ༺❀༻

"Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity."
--Nat Turner

I do my best to take a hands-on approach to social media as a moderator, both on the socials and in the server. Posts are formatted for each individual website, but still mirror one another - a photoset for Tumblr becomes a thread on Twitter, and so on. I work backwards from projected preorder periods to create a posting schedule that works with algorithms, and work closely with graphics mods to ensure that contributor spotlights, production updates, and interactive posts are ready to be posted on schedule. I'm a big believer in planning ahead and working to provide transparency to followers - if there are schedule adjustments or production delays, I want to communicate them early wherever possible.I strongly believe that a social media moderator should be active and present from the time the zine is announced to the time leftover sales end and donations are announced. I strive to ensure that entire period includes clear communication between moderators, contributors, and supporters.

ZineFandomThemeStatusWork
Roach's DelightsOur Flag Means DeathCookbookProduction Periodn/a
Hall of FamePokemonPokemon League ChampionsPreorders Extended thru 3/31!tba
Homemade in Hyrule vol.2
pinch hitter
The Legend of ZeldaHome CookingProduction Periodn/a
Fulminate
pinch hitter
Final Fantasy XVIGeneralCreation Periodn/a

༺❀༻ contributor ༺❀༻
as a writer


Pokémon

ZineThemeStatusWork
Champion Time!Champion LeonDonated USD $1301.84 to Red
Cross Ukraine
(tear down) these
monuments we've built
Bug Off!Bug-Type PokémonDonated USD $3353.40 to the
Xerces Society
Eclosion
DaydreamsOriginal CharactersCancelledn/a
EclipseDark-Type PokémonDonated USD $1445.61 to the Navajo Water Projecti am seeing in me now (the things
you swore you saw yourself)
Let's Go Johto!Johto RegionFor-Profit; Completei've been searching for something
taken out of my soul
CometAstrologyProduction Periodstrike the match (play it loud) (preview)
Winds of HoennHoenn RegionDonated USD $24,000 to Ocean ConservancyFortree CityPacifidlog TownMeteor FallsDrakeZinniaKabu
PokegeistGhost-Type PokémonProduction Periodif you're looking for a fright (turn off the light)
(preview)
Fairy Dust & Iron RustFairy-Type and Steel-Type PokémonLeftover Sales Openbrick by brick
Of Fantasy and Monster
❀ guest ❀
Final Fantasy VII CrossoverPreorders Open thru April 16alter the course
(preview)

Miscellaneous

ZineFandomThemeStatusWork
Let's Go Together!SK8 the InfinityFound FamilyDonated USD
$307.45
to StopAAPIHate
to dwell in possibility (where
do i go from here?)
Spring TidesOur Flag Means DeathAcceptance & CommunityProduction Period
+ free digital
copies available on itch.io
for the moon never beams
(without bringing me deams)
Inexorably DrawnHadesThanatos/ZagreusDonated USD $4732 to The
Foundation for AIDS Research
faces look ugly (when you're alone)
Let's Smile Together
❀ guest ❀
SanrioSanrio CharactersZine Launched, Free Digital DistributionColoring Outside
the Lines
You're Not Alone
❀ guest ❀
Final Fantasy IX22nd AnniversaryProduction PeriodHonor Amongst Thieves
(preview)
Sky is the Limit
❀ guest ❀
Legend of ZeldaTears of the KingdomCreation Periodsecret!

༺❀༻Other Projects༺❀༻


ProjectFandomTypeStatusWork
KBNZ ExchangePokemonExchangeCompleteUnder the Stars for Jonelin
MatchaBlossom ExchangeSK8 the InfinityExchangeCompletewe should just kiss like real people do for bitterheart
Sk8 Big BangSK8 the InfinityBig BangCompleteit's where you go to rest your bones + art by fishnobi
MatchaBlossom Reverse BangSK8 the InfinityBig BangPostingjust kiss me slowly + art by Embarrk


༺❀༻ Pokémon ༺❀༻

click image for more info, ao3 links, + sharing links
click title to read on ao3

༺❀༻ Zine Pieces ༺❀༻

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click title to read on ao3

Written for the Winds of Hoenn Zinegen | 711 | G
April–August 2022

Taking the stairs up leads one in a spiral around the tree trunk, past ferns and grasses, and past saplings and shrubs, and up into the canopy of the forest. Here, where the tops of emergent trees reach the sunlight and the leaves form a thick layer of shade over the rest of the forest’s undergrowth, the residents of Fortree City have made their home.༺❀༻

An exploration of Fortree City and its origins.

Written for the Winds of Hoenn Zinegen | 921 | G
April–August 2022

The golden light of the sunrise reflects on the waves and strikes the rocky heads of several Corsola as they swim about, darting underneath the platforms that the buildings rest upon to reach their colony’s home. The Corsola seem to shimmer, glittering in a rainbow that spreads like a halo on the waves around them. Small Horsea dart through the water alongside the Corsola, searching for hiding places in the rocky branches growing out of the Corsola’s heads.༺❀༻

Pacifidlog Town and its efforts to restore balance to its local ecosystems.

Written for the Winds of Hoenn Zinegen | 640 | G
April–August 2022

Route 115 has not changed much from the stories the Draconid people tell. It remains a peaceful stretch of shore, waves breaking upon clean white sand. Seafoam pools throughout the small bay, the shallow waters separated from the deeper ocean by a ring of boulders. Tentacool and Wailmer splash and croon in the rocky deep, bobbing to the surface with the swell of the sea. Wingull fight against the brisk sea breeze as Pelipper dive into the water and come up with their beaks full of seawater and fish. The shoreline crawls north, leading to dense forests.༺❀༻

An exploration of Meteor Falls, past and present.

Written for the Winds of Hoenn Zinegen | 1.2k | G
April–August 2022

Despite his firm grip on the helm, his shoulders are relaxed, and the Dragon Tamer exudes a sense of serenity, a calm born from decades of experience navigating the seas. It’s such a sharp contrast to the Drake who stood in the Battle Pike earlier in the day, tight-jawed and square-shouldered with a white-knuckled grip on his Poké Balls.༺❀༻

A character study of Elite Four member and Dragon Tamer Drake.

Written for the Winds of Hoenn Zinegen | 940 | G
April–August 2022

Galar’s Trainers cut their teeth on the maze-like navigations of Turffield and Hulbury, and Kabu’s game has caused many Trainers to give up, even after all these years as Gym Leader. Once a Trainer has reached Kabu, they must overcome the heat of his Fire-types — each one of which is well equipped to deal with even the swiftest of Water-types.༺❀༻

A biography of Kabu, detailing his exploits as a trainer in Hoenn and a Gym Leader in Galar.

Written for the Winds of Hoenn Zinegen | 2.6k | G
April–August 2022

“My mentor pushed me a lot,” Zinnia says. She kicks her legs, sitting on her hands and leaning forward, her arms tight at her sides. There’s a sadness in her eyes, one that lingers as she speaks of her childhood. “We all had the same dream, the same goal: make sure Hoenn survives. Make sure people live. It was a rough childhood, but it was necessary. The meteoroid was coming. We had to be ready.”༺❀༻

A memoir detailing Zinnia's childhood and her grief for Aster.

gen | 2.5k | T
November 2021 - February 2022

The water breaks against the rocks and the wind whistles sharply through the craggy area. Distantly, from deep within the cave, Kris hears the echo of a song.

She hears the crash of waves above her, feels the rush of water against her skin. A soft melody echoes through the water. There’s a crackle of electricity, a flash of lightning illuminating the silhouette of a great bird. She knows that shape, knows it in her heart.

She knows that song, feels it tugging at her soul and lets it drag her feet forward, out of the water and off the sand and into the dark cavern.
༺❀༻

Kris can feel the pull to the Whirl Islands long before Clair tells her of the sightings of a great bird Pokemon, gliding smoothly just above the surface of the water. She has heard the song of the sea, seen it in the eyes of the violet Dragonair she met in the chilled depths of the Dragon's Den.

All she must do to meet her destiny is take the next step into the cavern.

Piers shivers in the damp chill. The breeze rolls in from Circhester Bay, blowing icy cold air over the grass surrounding Spikemuth. Piers is grateful he doesn’t have to go far from home for this – though the short distance hadn’t made him any more inclined to bring Marnie along on this little excursion. He’d left her at home, Raihan in charge of babysitting her, while he came out here to the thick, tall grass.All in search of this: the tiny, dark purple mouse that sits before him, glowering with red eyes and sparks dancing along her cheeks.༺❀༻

In which Piers, age sixteen, catches his five-year-old baby sister her first Pokémon.

Single battles aren’t my forte - I’m far more used to each Pokémon complementing the other, attacks at the ready to cover for one another’s weaknesses. Single battles feel so limiting - like trying to waltz alone, or sing each part in a duet by yourself.As I watch Emmet lean to his left, instinctively, with the lurch of the train, I remember that Emmet, likely, feels much the same as I do.༺❀༻

Regarding Fallers and the empty spaces left behind. A "memoir" in first-person. Mild spoilers for Legends Arceus.

raileon, sonnessa | wip | M
January 2021 - present

Raihan just wants to reconnect with their dad. Nessa just wants to come out to their parents. When the press starts to get wind of Sonia and Nessa's relationship, they come up with a plan to throw the media off their scent.
If the media is busy focusing on Sonia and Raihan's "relationship", they're not focusing on outing Nessa, and Raihan and Nessa both get some time to talk to their parents and come out on their own terms. Simple, and easy.
They didn't account for the fact that Leon has been head over heels in love with Raihan for years, nor did they think that Piers would go behind their backs to tell Leon.
The "simple and easy fake dating plan" gets thrown out the window very quickly.

Written for Jonelin for the KBNZ Secret Valentine'skbnz | 1.7k | T
January - February 2022

Raihan looks back over his shoulder and smiles softly. “We’re almost there, I promise.”
They’ve been wandering the drafty castle halls for nearly twenty minutes, taking winding paths and traipsing up and down staircases. Raihan’s got Piers’s fingers laced in his, a picnic basket in hand full of their dinner, and is leading the march. The tower he’s aiming for isn’t particularly tall, but does require a fair few passageways to get to.
༺❀༻

Raihan and Piers finally have their no-Dynamax rematch - loser buys dinner.

Written for Bug Off! volume 1
A Bug-Type Pokemon Zine
gen | 2.5k | T
May - August 2021

Falkner glances over his shoulder, only to come nose-to-mandible with a Venomoth. He trips over his own feet and falls, staring in horror at the moth looming over him. Her wings beat through the air, rushing wind over Falkner’s trembling form. She quickly loses interest and turns back to her trainer. Falkner rises on shaky legs.
“…Falkner?” Falkner twitches, turning to face Bugsy. His eyes are glued to the retreating Venomoth. “Are you… afraid of bugs?”
༺❀༻

Bugsy is now running the Bug-Catching Contest, an event near and dear to him. Whitney and Falkner show up to support him, and he learns new things about his friends.

Written for the Champion Time Zinegen | 1.6k | G
December 2020 - March 2021

“Look, I get it,” he says. “I know how you feel. I still feel responsible for what Rose did, too, but it’s neither of our faults—”
“How can you know how I feel?” Bede slams his hands on the desk. He leans forward, cheeks flushed with anger. “He cared about you! He loved you! It’s all he could talk about for ten bloody years! How fantastic you are! How can you possibly know what it’s like to have the one person you want to care about you not even remember your name?”
༺❀༻

Or, Leon and Bede talk after the Champion Cup finals.

raileon | 2.4k | G
January 2021

He later realizes that he’d never considered the strawberries adorning Alcremie’s head as anything other than decoration. They are, in fact, quite similar to real strawberries, with the same genetic breakdown and the same scent and taste. The aroma comes off of the Ruby Swirl Alcremie in waves, and soon enough Leon can feel the dry itch starting in the back of his throat.༺❀༻

Leon is allergic to strawberries. This isn't a problem until Opal's Alcremie decides she can't sleep anywhere but Leon's arms.

sonnessa, raileon | 6.5k | T
December 2020

Ink and lyrics and illuminations join the feathers and scales, dotting the clouds with gold as they pass. They will remain in the stars, remnants of an old life now gone. And she, she will be reborn.
She will be whole again, with Knowledge by her side.
༺❀༻

Or, the reincarnated goddesses Sonia/Nessa au that no one asked for

Leon waves off his concern. “I’m fine, really. That kid though… the one with the Pikachu. He Gigantamaxed his Pikachu, with no Dynamax band.”Raihan blinks in surprise. “No Dynamax band?” At Leon’s nod, he turns around again. One of the kids is now standing, tossing a Pokéball at a nearby Skwovet. His friend does not react, and the Pokéball-thrower is clearly upset.༺❀༻

Raihan's pining and attempts to woo Leon while Leon is very distracted looking out for Ash.
AKA 'the anime messed up my babies, let's fix it'

What Rose doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
And if Leon spends a solid two hours in his room that night going through Raihan’s ZigZag feed, earbuds in and eyes lingering on the glint of too-sharp canines and the splay of long fingers as Raihan flips his hand around while he narrates, well. That’s Leon’s business.
༺❀༻

Raihan and the other gym leaders are all active on social media, while Leon? Leon is learning. In secret. And trying to keep his massive crush on his best friend secret as well.

In which Leon becomes Aware of Raihan's social media.
pre-relationship | 1.7k | M | June 2020

In which Raihan becomes Aware of Leon's social media.
raileon | wip | M | June 2020 - present

The Dragon Tamers and the Fae carry with them long, storied traditions, within Galar as well as deep in the lore of the other regions. Raihan has much to learn as he joins the Dragon's Summit.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Part one is Colloquium Dracones, a Hero's Journey featuring Raihan as he works with the other Dragon Tamers to learn of a dark intra-regional plot.Part two is the prequel to Colloquium Dracones, Fairy Lights and Takeout, detailing Raihan's gym challenge and his rise to gym leader.Part three is The Slaugh, a deep dive into the fae-enchanted secrets surrounding Raihan's mother as Raihan learns how to take up her mantle.Part four is untitled, in which the Tamers and the Fae launch their counter-attack against the plot first encountered in Colloquium Dracones

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Glitter Me is composed of side-stories to accompany the Annals, a series of one-shots detailing Leon's perspective as he and Raihan grow up, with a heavy emphasis on his experience with gender expression and identity.and if you're under him, you ain't getting over him is a side-story that takes place during Fairy Lights and Takeout. It details more of Piers and Raihan's friendship and relationship.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

raileon | wip | T
May 2020 - present

He looks to where Hop’s tiny finger is pointing, and the Petilil mannequin that Hop has bestowed his attention on is wearing a deep purple gown with soft pink floral embroidered insets. The sleeves are long, the same pink as the center of the dress, and are crisscrossed with bands of the same violet as the skirts. The silver trim glints in the afternoon sun, and Hop sighs as they look at the display.“So pretty…”

titlestatuspairings
Glitter MeWIPraileon, raipiersleon
Colloquium Draconescoming soon!raileon
Fairy Lights and Takeoutcoming soon!raileon, raipiers
and if you're under himcoming soon!raileon, raipiers
The Slaughcoming soon!raileon, raipiersleon
untitledcoming soon!raileon, raipiersleon

༺❀༻ SK8 The Infinity ༺❀༻

click image for more info, ao3 links, + sharing links
click title to read on ao3

Kaoru runs one fingertip along the deck's outer edge, then brings his hand up to hold tight to a wheel. He rubs a thumb along the flat of the wheel, wrist flexing to test the twist of the truck.“Alright, here it is — ah.”Kaoru glances up as Reki comes through the doorway, then back down to the board. “These are the wheels you used in your beef against Adam.”༺❀༻

A series of afternoons at Dope Sketch, in which Kaoru and Reki discover they're more similar than not & bond over skateboard builds.

Written for SK8 the Infinity Big Bangmatchablossom | 20k | M
May 2021 - January 2022

featuring art by fishnobi on Twitter

“I’ve been…” Freaking out, because I’m in love with my best friend. Losing sleep working on this project that I don’t think I’ll finish on time. “…Angry.”Chisato carefully does not react to that, which Kaoru appreciates. The other two, they’ve talked about. Love and friendship and stress and anxiety. It’s been a long time since they’ve talked about anger. It’s been a long time since Kaoru got truly angry.“What have you been angry about?”“Adam’s back.”༺❀༻

Left behind in Okinawa by both Adam and Kojiro, Kaoru goes to therapy. An exploration of trauma, anxiety, and finding your found family.
or, the one where Kaoru gets a therapy cat & falls in love with his best friend.

Written for bitterheart for the MatchaBlossom Exchangematchablossom | 5.6k | T
June - October 2021

It’s different, being watched as you work your magick. Kojiro spends a lot of time in the kitchen at Sia La Luce, fixing up new recipes and practicing exactly what herbs to mix into his sauces, what tune to hum as he stirs the pasta as it boils, to create just the right outcome. His food creates luck, it cures heartbreak, it heals colds. And it might just be the thing to help ease Kaoru’s pain as he heals from Adam’s assault.༺❀༻

Kojiro issues an ultimatum when Kaoru leaves the hospital: either Kaoru stays at Kojiro's home while he heals, or Kojiro will stay at Kaoru's.

Kaoru feels himself softening at the man’s tone. He’s polite, yes, but his voice is tinged by desperation. Slowly, against his better judgement, Kaoru lifts his gaze once more to meet the stranger’s deep red eyes.Kaoru is, by this point, well and truly fucked.༺❀༻

Or, Kaoru is just trying to go about his normal Saturday routine when he runs into an attractive stranger at the bus stop. Maybe it's not so bad to have his routine disrupted.

༺❀༻ The Legend of Zelda ༺❀༻

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click title to read on ao3

Sidon-centric | 3.8k | T
March–August 2021

It’s an odd feeling for him. He’s used to being outgoing, speaking so vibrantly to everyone and being the first to spark a conversation. And he still is, but he takes a moment’s pause before he speaks to Mipha.He isn’t quite certain how to speak to her. He used to know, once upon a time. Many years ago, for him, when he barely reached her knee and had to tilt his head back, back, back to meet her eyes.She’s the same Mipha he knew. Yet, as he looks down at her, knowing that had he not interfered, she would be dead right now, he hesitates.The last century has been long for Sidon, long and empty with a Mipha-shaped void hanging poignantly in the air.༺❀༻

Or, Sidon is given a second chance to get to know his sister. A Sidon-centric piece, focusing on his perspective through the events of Age of Calamity.

༺❀༻ Our Flag Means Death ༺❀༻

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click title to read on ao3

They slowly start to move again, stepping in time with Stede’s counting — “One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.” — and it feels like they’re gliding around the deck. Ed finds his feet moving without having to think about it much, and he lets himself focus on this moment. On the glow of the moon and stars beaming down upon them, on the soft click of their boots along the shining wood of the deck, on the softness of Stede’s hand in his own callused one.༺❀༻

Or, one moonlit evening, on the deck of the Revenge, Stede teaches Ed to waltz.

gentlebeard | WIP | T
April 2022 - present

We’re just not those kind of people, his mother’s voice says sadly in his ear, and he forcibly pushes down the urge to take Stede’s hands in his and pull him closer.༺❀༻

Or, Ed learns, slowly, bit by bit, to allow himself the softer, gentler things.

༺❀༻ Miscellaneous ༺❀༻

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Torchwood | Lisa/Ianto | 650 | TThe sun was warm on her skin. She stretched, letting the golden heat cover her back and shoulders. Lisa sighed in contentment and looked over to her left. Ianto slept on, his breathing slow and calm, pale skin glowing where the creeping sunlight hit it. She smiled at the sight, and reached out to stroke his cheek.

Torchwood | gen | 1.2k | M
major character death
Suzie Costello is a master in the art of lying.

Inkheart Trilogy | gen | 660 | TTaddeo, locked away in the Castle of Night, reflects on the Adderhead, Violante, Balbulus, the Bluejay, and himself.

Final Fantasy IX | gen | 604 | G"Hey, fool." Zidane paused, turned back to Baku. Baku looked at him sadly for a moment, then asked, "Did you find what you were looking for?"Zidane blinked, surprised, then huffed out a laugh."Naw, how can you find something when you don't know what it is?"

Former Champion of the Galar League, mother to Raihan, and wife to Inayat. Gwyneth is a Fairy-type specialist who was born and raised in Ballonlea, where she trained under Opal. She died when Raihan was six.

Father to Raihan and husband to Gwyneth, Inayat is from the noble families of Hammerlocke. He runs a small used bookshop in Hammerlocke, where he was born and raised. He and Raihan haven't spoken in over a decade.

Leon's personal assistant in the Battle Tower. She used to be a secretary at the front desk of Rose Tower, and was promoted after she challenged Leon about what changes he would make to the tower to make it different from Rose's reign. Barb hails from Unova and delights in getting Leon to say Unovan turns of phrase.

A chef and restaurant owner in Hammerlocke, Dennis is fiercely, proudly out as a trans man. Raihan frequented his restaurant as a child and teenager, and, through Raihan, Dennis was one of the first other trans men Leon met in person. Dennis is a staunch defender of queer youth in his area, and hosts a queer support network designed to help kids from unsupportive families.